U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), who previously called for a furlough of Congressional salaries in response to the partial shutdown of the federal shutdown, apparently has not followed through and has even ducked a reporter’s question about it.
The New York Post reported on Thursday that Oscasio-Cortez ran away when asked about her salary:
“I’ve gotta run!” Ocasio-Cortez told The Post when asked the question Thursday on Capitol Hill.
She then scampered down a crowded hallway to get in line for her mock swearing-in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Her response stands in stark contrast with U.S. Rep. Dr. Mark Green (R-TN-07), who on Friday sent a letter U.S. House of Representative’s Chief Administrative Officer, Philip Kiko, requesting his salary be suspended until a deal is reached and the partial government shutdown ends, as The Tennessee Star reported.
On Dec. 22, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:
Next time we have a gov shutdown, Congressional salaries should be furloughed as well.
It’s completely unacceptable that members of Congress can force a government shutdown on partisan lines & then have Congressional salaries exempt from that decision.
Have some integrity. https://t.co/BgueNNjf0f
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 22, 2018
On another Twitter post Dec. 22, in response to another tweet, she called herself a “working class member-elect”:
(Spoiler alert: most members of Congress are already wealthy!)
Speaking as a working class member-elect, I think it’s only fair.
It would also cause members who actually depend on their salary to think twice about leadership and take a shutdown vote more seriously. https://t.co/fSAcPAj0Xf
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 22, 2018
The Star has emailed Ocasio-Cortez’s staff to ask if she will give up her salary for the term of the shutdown. If a response is received, it will be reported.
The Post on Dec. 31 said Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesman failed to respond to numerous emails, texts and calls about the matter.
The Hill reported Saturday on 37 lawmakers in Congress – both Republicans and Democrats – who, like Green, have refused salaries and/or are donating their pay to charities.
Ocasio-Cortez’s name was not on the list compiled by The Hill.
These New York members of Congress are giving up their pay for the shutdown, The Hill said:
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13); U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18); U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY-11), who will donate any pay during the time; U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY-01); and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21).
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez” by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Photo “Mark Green” by Mark Green.
She clearly has the right to hyphenate her name to include her maiden name. Welcome to the 21st century.
[…] The Tennessee Star reported last month, the newly sworn-in Green has requested officials suspend his Congressional salary during the […]
Pretty sure it’s because she is 29 and broke, if she accepted a bunch of money from other sources and/or been in office for a while, she would forego her salary. Swing and a miss
Nice try Matthew B. If you in fact are trying to excuse her for acting hypocritical, then you are totally off base! You cannot say that because she is broke she has the right to take her salary. If that is the case, then YOU KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT!!! Big Home Run Tennessee Star!!
There is no end to the hypocrisy of a Socialist. She dares everyone to sacrifice and to share and to think of others first. Except when it come to her.
Americans used to ridicule the Chinese for being too weak to resist tyranny, but now Americans have found out that they are cowards, too.
Democrat socialist and utter hypocrite are synonymous.
drop the stupid freaking hyphen the girls last name is cortez
Firstly, what right do you have to tell her what her name is?
Secondly, what does this have to do with the article?
Finally, learn how to use punctuation.
Well, you’re correct, Mr. Trek doesn’tt get to tell her what her name is BUT the 1st Amendment protects his God given right to call her what he wants, AND to use the punctuation of his choosing!
I aplaude Rep. Green’s stance. He is the real deal.
Shhh… your lack of understanding of cultural surnames is showing. 🤫
In most Latin surnames, the mothers last name is used last and the fathers last name is in the middle.
Kudos to Rep. Green and where, pray tell, are the other members of the TN Congressional Delegation – the two U.S. Senators and remaining 8 U.S. Representatives?
Truth is, this so-called “furlough” is a paid vacation for the most part – on previous shutdowns, Congress swiftly passed legislation approving back pay for the workers furloughed, whether they “worked” or not. Most of the members of Congress are quite well-to-do and it would be interesting to note those who do donate their salaries on a regular basis as well as those who squawk about a salary of $174,000+ per year.
With the House now under majority Democrat rule, and the overwhelming majority of Federal “workers” also being Democrats, the probability is that it will be a paid vacation. Of course, President Trump could veto that legislation and the Democrats do not hold a 2/3 majority in the House to override it – but don’t count on it – seven so-called Republicans have already voted for the “no wall” continuing resolution. For those non-essential workers who are, in fact, still on the job, they should get paid – for those at home, nope.
But more to the point – the non-essential employees are just that, non-essential. The OMB should be directed to assess the extent to which the average citizen incurred actual damage and/or essential government functions were significantly impaired as a result of the so-called shut down – if little or none, eliminate that position in its entirety and forever more. Our country had its greatest periods of prosperity in eras of limited government. To start, the Dept. of Education could be eliminated, and should, reverting to the individual states and nobody would be the worse for it – except for those employed by the Dept.
In fact, scrutinize all those agencies that have been formed since the mid-1960’s – that was the last time this country enjoyed genuine prosperity driven by production that was not driven by fiat currency and under the control of the private banking cartel called the Federal Reserve.